cognitive development

American  

noun

1. the process of acquiring intelligence and increasingly advanced thought and problem-solving ability from infancy to adulthood.

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cognitive development Cultural  

1. The growth of a person's ability to learn.

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Example Sentences

He’s legitimizing its use as psychological scaffolding, which allows a person’s cognitive development to be left perpetually unfinished.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

Because they are in the early stages of their emotional and cognitive development, children and other young people are especially vulnerable, with nearly one in five immigrant parents reporting adverse impacts to their children’s well-being.

From Salon • Dec. 9, 2025

“The mixture of emissions has been linked to poor birth outcomes, reduced lung and cognitive development, development and worsening of chronic respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and increased risk of dementia, cancer and premature death.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 29, 2024

As infants approached age 3, they were re-evaluated for social, emotional and cognitive development along with using MRIs to scan brain structure.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2024

For the student, music not only strengthens emotional and cognitive development, but also allows a new outlet of expression, and a new means of learning through listening and making sound.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin